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Wednesday, 28 June 2017

Ten things I love about travelling with the family

We love to travel as a family, and you can read about some of our adventures on my travel page. Today I've made a little list of ten things that I love about travelling as a family.

That moment when you get off a plane or out of the car in a new country - the relief as you are released from a confined space and the feeling of excitement when the fresh air hits you with unfamiliar smells and sounds.Spending time together - living in a little family bubble and enjoying time spent in each other's company. It doesn't matter if you are doing something adventurous out and about, or chilling together with books and tablets. As difficult as it can sometimes be travelling with young children, I'm well aware that there won't be endless opportunities, and we need to make the most of them while we can.

Seeing interesting things - from big important historic sites and monuments to a different coloured post box or an unfamiliar food in the supermarket.

Losing track of time - when you don't need to worry about getting to school on time, rushing to swimming lessons, or getting to bed at a reasonable hour. If you are on a relaxing schedule you can even forget what day of the week it is, as long as you don't forget to come home!

Learning about a new culture - whether the differences are subtle or more extreme. I love seeing how people live in different countries, how their lives are different and how they are the same. Even countries that are very similar to the UK have their differences. I think it's important to share with the children that there are many different ways of doing the same thing, whether it's how you travel to school, what you eat for dinner or how you spend your free time.Eating food that I didn't have to cook - and along with this, using crockery and cutlery that I don't have to wash up, sleeping in a bed with sheets that I didn't have to change, and using a bathroom that I don't have to clean.

Relaxed bedtimes - as long as the children are happy and we don't have an early start, I love not having the pressure to get them to bed at a reasonable time. Especially nice when you are somewhere warm with long evenings, and you can enjoy being outdoors and making the most of the day.

Living out of a suitcase - and having the exact amount of clothes that you need. No fussing about what to wear every day as you have a limited number of options, and so much less stuff means a lot less tidying.

Learning something new - perhaps a few words in a foreign language, about a local landmark or historic site, finding out about a historic event that you've never heard of before, and learning about a different way of life.

Coming home again - and appreciating what you have at home (as long as you can ignore the huge pile of washing, if only for a little while!)